Hamzah Sheeraz doesn’t typically care who he fights, but he’d have a gigantic issue if Janibek Alimkhanuly ends up being the one standing across the ring from him. Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) recently announced that he was dropping his WBO middleweight crown and moving up in weight. Shortly afterward, the WBO installed the Kazakhstani as the mandatory challenger to Sheeraz’s super middleweight title. The sanctioning body gave the sides until September 3 to reach an agreement, or purse bids will be called. Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KOs) isn’t afraid of Alimkhanuly, but he doesn't believe he deserves to skip the line. Heading into his 160-pound unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December, Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, a banned substance. He was suspended by the WBO for one year, but was allowed to hold onto his WBO belt. The IBF opted to strip him of his title. Alimkhanuly's suspension was due to end in December. However, the WBO officially ended it on July 20, making him eligible to face Sheeraz. The WBO stated that Alimkhanuly had a spotless record and was a first-time offender. It also said that he complied with certain conditions. The newly minted 168-pound WBO champion wasn’t happy about the decision. “I think it’s a joke,” Sheeraz said on the Ariel Helwani Show. “I think what the WBO has done here is disgraceful to the sport of boxing. What you’re essentially doing is rewarding someone who popped and also while he’s serving a ban. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first time. Being popped is being popped. The sport we’re in, you’re risking your life.” Sheeraz was hoping to land a big fight before the end of this year. The 27-year-old stopped Alem Begic in two rounds to win the vacant WBO crown on the May 23 Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven card in Egypt. In his first title defense, he looked listless as he won a majority decision against Simon Zachenhuber on July 25. Alimkhanuly is a big name, having steamrolled his competition. However, he hasn’t been seen since stopping Anauel Ngamissengue in the fifth round in April of last year. At the moment, Sheeraz is still mulling over his options. “The fighter side of me, my ego is saying, ‘Listen, crack on with it. Just get in there and get the job done,’” Sheeraz said. “But me being a man who has morals and believes in being a clean athlete, it contradicts everything. It’s something that me and my team will have to sit down and see what we’re doing.” Meanwhile, Alimkhanuly is annoyed by Sheeraz’s complaints. He wants his rival to zip his lip, throw his gloves on and step into the ring with him. “Why doesn’t he just say, ‘Let’s fight!’ This is a sport,” Alimkhanuly said on his X account. “If you call yourself a champion, then prove it. Step up, fight the best, and show everyone what you’re made of. Don’t sit on a podcast whining and crying about it. Get in the ring and fight!”